Thirunavukkarasar was a seventh-century Saiva Tamil poet-saint and one
of the most prominent of the 63 Nayanars. He was an older contemporary
of Thirugnanasambanthar.
Appar Swami carrying the Uzhavaram
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Details of Appar's life are found in his own hymns and in Sekkizhar's
Periya Puranam (the last book of the Tirumurai). Appar was born in the
middle of 7th century in Tiruvamur, Tamil Nadu to a Vellala family. His
childhood name was Marulneekiar. His sister, Thilagavathiar was
betrothed to a military commander who died in action. When his sister
was about to commit sati and end her life, her brother pleaded with her
not to leave him alone in the world. She decided to lead an ascetic life
and bring up her only brother and thereupon started serving in the
Shiva temple at Athikai (now called Thiruvathigai Veerattanam).
Throughout boyhood, Appar was very interested in Jainism and studied its
scriptures. He travelled to Thirupadhiripuliyur (Cuddalore) to join a
Jain monastery where he was given the name Dharmasena. "Seeing the
transient, ephemeral world he decided to probe into truth through
renunciation."
After a while, afflicted by a painful illness in his stomach
(intussuception), Dharmasena returned home. He prayed for relief at the
Siva temple (where his sister served) and was cured. Because of his
miraculous cure and the prayful intercession of his sister, Appar
returned to the fold of Saivism.
The Jain heads influenced the King to torture Tirunavukkarasar in order
to renounce his belief in Saivism. He was thrown into a burning lime
kiln, poisoned, faced a rampaging elephant and finally tied to a stone
and thrown into the seas. Under the protection of the Lord,
Tirunavukkarasar was saved from all these calamities.
The Saint tied to a stone and thrown into the sea
The Pallava king who had persecuted the Saint now convinced of the
superiority of Saivism went to Tirunavukkarasar and begged his pardon.
Tirunavukkarasar embraced the king with love and affection, and the king
embraced Saivism and built the magnificent temple of Siva called
Gunabharaveechuram at Tiruvathikai.
On his return to this religion he was involved in converting the Pallava
king, Mahendravarman to Saivism. Additionally this was also the period
of the resurrection of the smaller Shiva temples. Appar sanctified these
temples by reciting his verses. He served in the cleaning of
dilapidated temples called "uzhavarapadai" and was always seen with an
Uzhavaram (a blade with a long handle) on his shoulder which was used as
a tool to clean temple grounds and paths to enable devotees to walk
comfortably.
Thirunavukkarasar stayed for many years at Thiruvathikai with his sister
and rendered many Pathigams about Lord Shiva. Later, he started
visiting other Shiva temples. Appar heard about Thirugnanasambanthar and
went to Sirkazhi to meet the young boy. Thirugnanasambanthar
respectfully addressed Thirunavukkarasar as Appar (father). It is
believed that this is the reason this Nayanar is also fondly referred to
as Appar. Both saints travelled together visiting many temples and
rendered their Pathigam separately.
In Sekkizhar's Periya Puranam one finds reference to the fact that Appar
travelled to many temples in South India including Sri Kalahasthi in
Andhra Pradesh and continued his journey all the way to Kasi (Varanasi)
by foot. He wanted to go to Mount Kailas but his health did not permit
him. He prayed to Lord Shiva seeking his help who in turn asked him to
take a dip in a pond that he had created nearby. When he took a dip in
that pond, Appar was surprised to find himself in Thiruvaiyaru. He
rushed to the temple to praise the lord and it is believed that at this
place Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati gave him Kailas darshan.
It is believed that in some of the Shiva sthalams, he performed miracles
by reciting his pathigams. For example, in a place called Thingalur,
his hymns brought Apputhi Adigal's son back to life after he was bitten
by a snake.
Out of 276 Paadal Petra temples, Appar is believed to have personally
visited 126 temples. He travelled to all these temples by foot, covering
at least a few thousand kilometres. Sundarar states in his
Thiruthondarthokai that Appar composed 4,900 hymns consisting of ten to
eleven verses each. This was reiterated by Nambiyandar Nambi and
Sekkizhar, but only 313 hymns (3120 verses) are available today. He was
known as Thirunavukkarasar, meaning the "King of Divine speech". Appar's
pathigams, also called "Devaram", were compiled by Nambiyandar Nambi
into the fourth to sixth volumes of the Thirumurai.
Appar attained mukti (salvation-union with the Lord) at the age of 81
years, on Sadhaya Nakshtram day in the Tamil month of Chithirai at
Thirupukalur Shiva temple, Tamil Nadu.
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